28. The Success of Hydrological Rehabilitation in Mangrove Wetlands Using Box Culverts Across Coastal Roads in Northern Yucatán (SE, México)

The construction of roads, shelter ports and artificial mouths has altered the balance between freshwater and saltwater intakes, flow, tidal levels and water quality. This is reflected in the deterioration and death of the mangrove. Restoration, rehabilitation and reforestation methods have been carried out, but their success has not been determined, and sometimes perhaps do not meet the proposed objectives. For example, the opening of sewers as a method of restoration did not meet the objectives proposed in all localities, with Chuburnà, Progreso site east, Vía Antigua, Chicxulub, and Chabihau, being the most impacted. While San Benito, Dzemul, La Línea, and Telchac, had better results with mangroves being preserved. Chabihau, for maintaining a permanent connection with the sea, represents a real salinization. In the north, the concentration of inorganic nutrients in the water column is mainly phosphorus, by the removal of sediments during rain events, which facilitates the flow of nutrients between the sediment and the water column. The high concentrations of sediments suggest that these are basins of accumulation, and therefore, more susceptible to impacts. Among these impacts, organic pollution can be highlighted, resulting in the deterioration of flora and fauna. This condition implies that management measures, such as using box culverts across roads, should be carried out according to the characteristics of each locality.